The choice of venue was in part influenced by a lack of funds due to a recent drop in donations to the party.

[2] Candidates had until December 14, 2012 to be nominated by gathering the signatures of 500 party members from 50 ridings in 10 regions and submitting a $50,000 deposit.

The rules and timeline were formally adopted on October 21, 2012, the day before the official start of the campaign.

Minister of Finance until 2012, former aide to Parti Québécois Premier René Lévesque.

[16][17] He withdrew from the race two days before the deadline to submit his nomination papers, after failing to get the requisite 500 signatures in 50 ridings.